The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-10-12
A FRENCH FIRE.EATER.

corps of musketeers of Louis XIV. Cho-
quarts mania for dueling, his ever-recur-
ring provocations to decide difference
at the swords point made Of him public
character; and his reputation was per-
haps heightened rather than diminished
by the fact that his most terrible chal-
lenges were unable to Withstand the offer
of peaceful solution over bowl of
punch. His guileless talk and southern
accent, his peculiar way of lisping and
other physical oddities, gave to his daily
Odyssey a smack of the most genuine
comic buffoonery.
When the mania for fighting was
strong within him it was difficult to evadc
his mood. One day he would enter
coffee house, take his seat, and say to
near neighbor:
after you, the Figaro, please"
"Sir," the other would politely re-
spond, ''it is not the Figaro but the Con-
stitutionnel that am reading"
"Oh! you would give me that lie
would you! Take care, sir, or I'll teach
you better manners
On another occasion he would intro
duce like scene after this fashion:
"Now, don't keep staring at me in that
offensive way, p'ease"
"lV eXpostulated the customer. ''Bless
me, sir, didn't even see you. / was
looking the other way"
ooh! then l am liar, am II" And
Choquart would rise from his seat in n
threatening attitude.
Even the most peaceful persons could
scarcely put up with such insolence.
They felt like tucking up their sleeves
and knocking Choquart down. Nor did
he fail, at times, to meet with his de-
serts. He more than once stumbled on
Tartar. His best known scrape that
way is worth relating. Choquart one
day entered a courtyard to challenge q
master-builder, who was pumping water
at a fountain. The mas.er-builder looked
up surprised caught hold of Choauart by
the scrutf of his neck, doubled him up,
put him under the pump, and sousel him
like dead rat
The story of Choquart's adventures
would fill volume, but will relate only
one, wherein acted as his second.
One night, at masked ball, Choquart
quarreled witha Turk. Cards were ex-
changed. The following day. Choquart,
with his two seconds, went to his adver-
sary's house. The Turk of the previous
evening turned out to be a well-,o do
upholsterer, who carried on business in the
Saint Martin quarter. On entering tie
premises, Choquart inquired after NJ.
Ballu.
What can l do for you ?" asked a
young and pretty woman, who came for
ward from the back of the shop.
Stuff and nonsense | don't like
Joking in matters of serious importance.
My name is Choquart. come for an
affair of honor. a gentleman shouldn't
be made to wait in this manner. YoLr
husband is an ill-bred dog"
Oh, excuse me, now l know what
brings you. This is what have to say
My husband went out yesterday to spend
the carnival, and it has made him i'll.
He is in bed, and spits blood"
Dear me-" remarked Choquart, turn
ing towards his seconds, "what mis-
chance He spits blood, did you say I? 4"
"Alas yes, SIR" answered the young
woman, who seemed much aTected, land
the doctor says that he has not six
months to live.'
Dear me went on repeating Cho-
quart, "spits blood. How shall we settle
tH"N'NAo AiANA lltNSll I SlA illOulIlS 10 llNe,
Well, madame, I'm not bad fellow,
whatever Others may think. Now, listen
to what have to say. We are in January,
aren't we just so. Well, I'll give your
husband six months to be buried in. |
shall call around and pay my respects six
months hence. If, in July next, your
husband isn't dead aud buried I'll treat
him as knave and deceiver, aud pla ard
his name in all the barracks of Paris
This threat, which constantly fell from
Choquart's lips, was a "reminiscences of
his soldier life. The thought never sug-
gested itself that an upholsterer might
not care the jingle of brass farthing
whether his name were placarded or not
I IN all the barracks of the country.
/ One fine afternoon in July of that same
year, Choquart took hold of my arm at
the Varieties cotfee-house, and said:
Come along with me, old boy; | have
small matter which really must clear
| up without further loss of time"
We took road which led toward the
Saint-Martin quarter, and, as we walked
along, Choquart entered circumstantially
| into the particulars of the case. The up.
holsterer's day of reckoning had arrived,
and Choquart was bent on finding out
whether his former Turk had paid the
funeral draft indorsed six months previ.
ously by his wife.
'If,' soliloquized Choquart, "the
rogue is still alive, I'll cut off both his
ears, you know, I'm justified in so doing.
am notp
"Of course you are my dear fellow.
But, let me ask, the thing occurred long
ago, didn't it, and in the carnival sea,
son! And again, what did the fellow do
! to warrant such feudN
"What did he do, the villiau9 just
listen and I'll tell you. was at amasked
ball given at. the Renaissance Theatre.
walked into the green-Ioom in my dress
suit ! am spare of limb as you can see.
Suddenly Turk stopped directly in
front of me and bawled out: 'Halloo,
there goes the Fat OK! Make way,
please, for the Fat OXn Everybody
roared at this sally. | was downright
VeXed, as you may suppose. So | made
up to him and said: My merry friend, al
noon tomorrow you shall be a dead
man."
''He was in the wrong, certainly" ]